Multiple propelled balloon



G. AFPINEL.

MULTIPLE PROPELLED BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED MAYiz, 1919.

o'anew G. APP|NEL. MULTIPLE PROPELLED BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I2, 1919.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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MULTIPLE PROPELLED BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI2. |919.

1,337,032I Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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MULTIPLE PROPELLED BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I2, 1919.

1,337,032. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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MULTIPLE PROPELLED BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I2, 1919.

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G. APPINEL.

MULTIPLE PROPELLED BALLOON.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI2,1919.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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GIUSEPPE APPINEL, OF ELKVILLE, ILLINOIS.

MULTIPLE APROPELLED BALLooN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application iled May 12, 1919. Serial No. 296,458.

To ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, GIUSEPPE APPINEL, subject of the King of Italy, residing at Elkville, in the county of Jackson and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Multiple Propelled Balloons, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has to do with aeronautics and more particularly with dirigible or propelled balloons.

' One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a propelled balloon of large carrying capacity embodying a plurality of balloon units, in order tocontribute to the factor of safety; the said balloon units and the balloon as a whole being constructed and arranged in wedge-shape formation with a view to lessening the wind resistance and increasing the speed of the balloon in proportion to the power exerted in the propulsion of the same through the air.

Another object of the invention is the provision in the dirigible balloon of a plurality of balloon units individually inflatable and deflatable, in combination with means for seating and holding the balloons against lateral pressure of the wind. Another object is the provision in a dirigible balloon of a common source of gas supply in combinationlwith the plurality of balloon units, and means whereby the pilot or other person in authority is enabled to let gas into any unit when the same is deflated to any appreciable extent, together with means whereby the pilot or other person in authority is enabled to exhaust gas from any one or all of thel balloon units, as when it is desired to cause the balloon to descend.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a propelled or dirigible balloon, embodying a peculiar and advantageous means for propelling the balloon in combination with means for enabling the pilot or other person in authority to steer the balloon with facility,l so that the course of the balloon may be expeditiously and easily changed as occasion demands.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple unit balloon embodying a peculiar and advantageous frame work that is at once light in weight and still:l and strong and is adapted for the ready connection of the balloon units in the relative arrangement desired, and 'is also adapted for the carriage in a pendent manner of the passenger coach comprised in the apparatus.

Another object is the provision in a multiple unit dirigible balloon of means whereby the forward balloons may be deflated when it is desired to direct the balloon downwardly, and the rear balloons may be deflated when it is desired to drive the balloon upwardly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, hereby made a part hereof, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the balloon constituting the best vertical embodiment of my invention that I have as yet devised.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the balloon.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken through the balloon in the plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, and showing one of the balloon units seated in the holding and protecting cradle complementary thereto, and also showing the connection of the cradle to the flexible reticulated fabric which rests over the balloon and through the medium of which the cradle is suspended from the balloon.

Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrative of the conduit connection intermediate the gas tank and one of the balloon units, together with the valves and cable connections, whereby the pilot or other person in authority is enabled to bring about infiation or defiation of the balloon unit. i

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views of details hereinafter` explicitly referred to.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of t-he drawings.

The several balloon units l and 2, and the 100 frame 3 of my novel balloon are so arran ed, as `best shown in Figs. l and 3, that the alloon as a whole is of general wedge-shape configuration, thus being advantageous, in-

asmuch as it lessens the resistance of the 4105 wind when the balloon is being driven forwardly and in that way is calculated to increase the speed of the balloon.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the balloon units l are arranged in a' longitudinal central 110 the said tank is provided with a' filling open-v series, while the balloons 2, which are preferably of less diameter than some of the bal` loons `1, are arranged in rearwardly divergent 'series so as to contribute to the desirable wedge-shape formation of the balf loon in general. Each of the balloons 1 and 2 vis provided with a valved eduction orifice 4 and a valved induction orifice `5. y Disposed in all of the balloons is a main frame that is of skeleton-work character and is constructed of aluminum or other material that is at once light and strong. The said frame comprises longitudinal bars 6, transverse arches 7, struts 8, interposed between and oining the bars 6,' and the arches 7, comparatively short longitudinal bars 9, interposed between and joining the several arches 7, and cradles 10, of'general saucer shape configuration, superimposed upon and connected with the short longitudinal bars 9 and the arches 7 .l The said cradles 10 are of open work or reticulated construction, as shown, and they vary in size in accordance with the different diameters of the balloon units, and I would here have it understood that each cradle 1() 1s of a size to snugly seat its respective balloon unit.

Arranged longitudinally and centrally of the balloon and vsuspended through the medium of cables 11 from the main frame is the pendent coach 12 of the balloon.

Fixedly connected to and arranged under the main frame of the balloon and between said main frame and the pendent coach 12 is the longitudinal central gas tank 13 that is common toI all of the balloon units as hereinafter specifically set forth. At 14 ing, normally closed through the medium of a valve 15, and from this it follows that at desired intervals the said tank may be conveniently charged at a supply station with hydrogen gas or illuminating gas or any other gas suitable for use in the balloon units w1th a view to rendering the same lighter than vthe atmospheric air. Interme diate the tank 13 and the induction orifice 5 of each balloon is a conduit 16, and it will here be understood that connected with the valve of the orifice 5 and the location of the person in authority in the coach 12 is a cable 17 through the vmedium of which such person is enabled to open the said valve, which is' numbered 18, against the action of a spring19, the function of which is lto yieldingly hold the valve in a closed position'and to return it to said position when the cable 17 is relieved of pull. From this 'it follows that when the supply of gas in any one of the balloon units is depleted to a greater or less extent, the supply may be replenished.

from the tank 13 by the person in authority kholding the valve 15 open v through the mediumof the cable 17.

provided with a` valve 20 and a spring 21 for yieldingly holding said valve in a closed positionwand it will be noticed that ja cable22 extends from each valve 18 to the location in the coach of the person in authority, whereby such person is enabled to conveniently `open the valve or valves 18 of one or more than one balloon units with a view to letting gas out of said unit or units. From this provision it follows that when it is desired to direct the balloon upwardly the gas may' be let out of balloon units in the rear of the balloon, whereupon the balloon as a whole will assume an inclined position with the forward portion thereof uppermost. Then when the elevation desired is attained, the supply of gas in the partially deflated balloon units lmay be replenished from the tank 13 in the manner before' described. When it is desired to direct the balloon downwardly, gas is let out of the forward balloon units through the medium of the eduction valves 4 and the appurtenances thereof, whereupon the balloon will be caused to assume an inclined position with the rear portion thereof uppermost. Again, when the balloonhas been caused to de- Scend to the extent desired the previously defiated rear balloon units will be supplied 'with gas from the tank 13 and through the and the main frame as a whole from the group of balloon units.

Manifestly, by virtue. ofthe disposition of the balloon units in the cradles 10 the said balloon units will 'be held against lateral deflection and at the same time will be strongly reinforced [with the result thatl wind pressure on the units is not likely to displace the same or to impose undue strain on the reticulated fabric -23.

Disposed in front `of and connected in hinged manner with the main frame of the balloon is a forward steering vane 24. This vane 24 is disposed vertically and is of wedge or V-shape in horizontal section, and is of such size as to contribute to the general wedge-shape formation of the balloon as a whole. At each side of vane 24 are transversely mounted propeller wheels 25, fixed upon shafts 26.

At the rear end of the main frame of the balloon is connected in pivotal manner a vertically disposed steering vane 27. This steering vane 27 contains transversely arranged propeller wheels 28, ixed upon longitudinal shafts 29. B-y virtue of the propelling wheels 28 being disposed in the rear vanes, the said propeller wheels are adapted to contribute to the facility with which the course of the balloon may be changed, as occasion demands.

Suitably mounted in the main frame are the motors, of internal combustion type, complementary to the propeller wheels 25, said motors being numbered 30. Each of the motors 30 is provided with a shaft 31, and the said shafts 31 are connected through transverse shaft sections, Fig. 3, and universal joints 32 with the shafts 26.- Likewise, motors 33, of internal combustion type, are carried in themain frame adjacent to the rear end thereof, and said motors 33 are provided with shafts 34 and 29, preferably, though not necessarily, connected through universal joints 35 with the shafts of the rear propeller wheels.

The passenger coach 12 is provided at its forward end with a pilot house 36, and the cables 17 and 22 complementary to the multiplicity of balloon units will be carried over suitable guides and into the said pilot house so as to enable the pilot or some other person in authority to control the supply of gas to and the exhaust of gas from the balloon units individually. From this it follows that the pilot, when occasion demands, is enabled to bring about partial deflation of the rear balloon units; as when it is desired to direct the balloon upwardly, and is also enabled to bring about partial deflation of the forward balloon units, as when it is desired to direct `the balloon downwardly. It will also be understood that the pilot by virtue of the provision made, may, when the balloon is at the elevation desired, establish connection between the tank 13 and certain of the balloon units and thereby restore the balloon to horizontal position.

.In rear of the pilot house 36 the coach 12 is divided into a plurality of compartments for passengers of different-classes, and the said compartments being numbered 37 and being provided with doors 38 for the ingress and egress of passengers.

Carried in the main frame and arranged adjacent to the forward andrear motors are fuel tanks 40, which are connected in conventional manner or in any other approved manner with carbureters 41, which carbureters, in turn, are connected with the eX- plosion chambers of the internal combustion motors.

rEhe internal combustion motors are preferably, though not necessarily, of the type designed and adapted to be put into opera.

tion precedent to the commencement of a flight of the balloon:

The forward vane 24 and the rear vane 27 are connected with cables 42 and the said cables 42 are carried through suitable guides 43 into the pilot house and are there connected with a hand wheel 44 through the medium of which the pilot or other person in authority is enabled to swing the forward and rear vanes synchronously in the same direction, with the result that when it is desired tochange the course of the balloon to the right or to the left, the same may be expeditiously and easily accomplished. l

j It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a propelled balloon of large carrying capacity,and one which, in proportion to the horsepower employed, may be driven at a high rate of speed; also that my novel balloon may be nicely controlled to bring about. ascent or descent of the same, and that at all times while in flight the balloon is eminently safe, because in the event of accident or otherwise bringing about partial or complete deflation of any one or more of the balloon units, the other balloon units will suffice to suspend the balloon in the air and will thereby preclude the fall of the balloon to the ground. l have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of elements embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a full, clear and exact understanding of the said embodiment. T do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the said specific construction and relative arrangement of parts, inasmuch as in the future practice of the invention various changes in the form, construction and arrangement of features or elements may be made without diverting from the scope of my invention as defined in my appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A propelled balloon comprising amain frame of skeleton construction, havlng a plurality of open-work cradles at its upper side, a multiplicity of independent inflatable balloon units, disposed one in each cradle; the said frame and group of balloon umts being' of general wedge-shape in plan, flexible reticulated fabrics, resting over the balloon unit and connected to the cradles to suspend the cradles and frame from the balloon units, a vertically disposed steering vane, of wedge-shape in horizontal section, connected in hinged manner with the forward end of the main frame and forming a continuation thereof, a vertically disposed steering vane connected in hinged manner with the rear end of the main frame, propeller wheels mounted transversely- 1n the rear vane, internal combustion motors carried inthe main frame adjacent to the steerinf vanes and having their drive shafts connected With the shafts of the motors, fuel tanks carried in the main frame and arranged adjacent to the motors, a longitudinal pendent passenger coach connected with' and arranged below the main frame, and havin a pilot house at its forward end andr a so havingpassenger compartments, Acontrolling means intermediate the steering vanes and the pilot house, a gas tank common to the several balloon units, conduit connections lbetween said tank and units and having valves, an eduction valve complementary to each balloon unit, and means connected With said valves and extending into the pilot house, whereby the pilot or other person in authority is enabled to control the inflation and deflation of each balloon unit individually.

2. A propelled balloon, comprising a mainframe and a multiplicity of balloon units,'

from Which the main frame is suspended; the said main frame and group of balloon units being arranged in general Wedge-shape formation, in combination With an upright steering vane, of Wedge-shape, in horizontal section, having its rear and comparatively Wide portion connected in hinged manner with the forward end of the main frame, an upright vane connected in hinged manner with the rear end of the main frame, a pilot lhouse carried by the main frame, connections eXtending from the Vanes into the pilot house, whereby the pilot is enabled to control the course of the balloon, propelling Wheels disposed in the rear vane, propelling Wheels at opposite sides of the forward vane, and motors carried in the main frame and connected with said Wheels.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

GIUSEPPE APPINEL. 

